Integration of Functional and Structural Connectivity from rs-fMRI and DTI to Study Healthy Maltreated Adolescents

Minhui Ouyang¹, Uma Rao², Tejasvi Gundapuneedi¹, Hao Huang¹

The underlying mechanisms of long-lasting impairments in behavioral, cognitive and social functioning caused by childhood maltreatment (MALTX) are not well-understood. Integrating functional and structural connectivity from resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) and DTI provides insight of the affected brain circuits including both cortical region and white matter tracts in the maltreated subjects. In this study, rs-fMRI and DTI scanning were acquired from 19 MALTX adolescent volunteers and 13 age-matched control volunteers. We have identified disrupted structural and functional connectivity and revealed the relationship of the abnormal connectivity of both types in the maltreated healthy subjects.